The Marines stay prepared with rigorous training exercises.
On April 22, they provided close air support with a powerful minigun against a simulated enemy at a training ground at the Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center in Twentynine Palms, California.
Marine Light Attack Squadron (HMLA-269) was flying, landing, piloting and providing close air support by firing a GAU-17 Minigun from UH-1Y Venom helicopters, according to video posted by the Defense Visual Information Distribution Service.
HMLA-269 and other Marine Aircraft Group (MAG-29) squadrons integrate and support various ground-based units as part of the Service Level Training Exercise. MAG-29 is a subordinate unit of the Second Marine Aircraft Wing, the aviation combat element of the Second Marine Expeditionary Force.
The series of exercises are designed to prepare Marines for operations worldwide by improving their skills in offensive and defensive combat operations.
The GAU-17, or M134 Minigun, is a six-barrel rotary machine gun with a high rate of fire, from 2,000 to 6,000 rounds per minute.
The Bell UH-1Y Venom, also called Super Huey, is a twin-engine, medium-sized utility helicopter.
(Edited by Fern Siegel and Judith Isacoff)
